Riverpoint Academy’s true value

On May 30 we had the privilege of attending the last “Exhibition Night” of Riverpoint Academy in Mead. I say privilege because that’s what it was. We went to see our grandson’s final presentation and we received so much more. The rooms were filled with amazing and wonderful projects that were the result of hours of hard work and ingenuity.

However, the most outstanding feature of that room full of students was their overall poise, knowledge and confidence. Without fail every one of the presenters we talked to showed a passion and goals that were far beyond us when we were in high school those many years ago.

We saw art that could have been placed in galleries. There were photographs that used techniques that boggled the mind. There were engineering and science projects of astounding complexity. It was one of the most amazing things we had ever seen.

This was the final Exhibition Night not only for our grandson but for the entire program. It seems that Riverpoint Academy was being ‘suspended’ due to a budget deficit and cuts had to be made. The shortsightedness of taking the axe to this program to save $1.3 million when the deficit was more than $12 million is counterintuitive. To cut funding for this program is penny wise and pound foolish. These students have amazing minds and to toss them back into the conventional educational system is a tragic waste of talent. We must do better for our children and grandchildren.

Gil Beyer

Sandpoint, Idaho